Two people have been arrested in connection with an acid attack which left a
young Victoria’s Secret shop assistant scarred for life, police said today.

Naomi Oni, 21, who worked for the lingerie chain in east London, said she had acid thrown in her face by a woman wearing a niqab as she walked home from a bus stop in the early hours of December 30 last year.

The acid burned her face, arm, hand a leg and left her temporarily blinded. She spent almost a month in hospital while doctors fought to save her sight and carried out skin grafts to repair the scarring to her face.

Today Scotland Yard disclosed that a 21 year old woman and a 28 year old man were arrested and bailed in connection with the attack.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman denied the woman arrested was Miss Oni, who works for Victoria's Secret at Westfield Stratford after speculation that she may have been responsible for the attack herself.

Despite Sunday newspaper reports suggesting Miss Oni may have been involved in the attacks, police failed to publicly release any details about the two arrests, which occurred on Friday and yesterday, until this morning.

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Today, Miss Oni said she was left "really upset" by the allegation, which she vehemently denies. Friends say she is considering making an official complaint to the Metropolitan Police.

Her family have raised concerns that detectives may let the stranger they believe was responsible for the attack escape justice if they concentrate on the wrong theory.

It is understood that police who are examining her laptop have discovered that Miss Oni, 20, visited websites that related to acid attacks before the incident on December 30 last year.

But friends pointed out that many people had viewed a Channel 4 documentary about a former model called Katie Piper who had sulphuric acid thrown in her face by her ex-boyfriend.

Miss Oni said today: "I've only just come out of hospital after having surgery on my eye. To see this story saying that I'd done it made me so angry and really hurts.

"There's no way I would have done this to myself. I want the person who did this to be caught."

Her boyfriend, law student Ato Owede, 24 accused police of wasting time by pursuing a "crazy" line of inquiry.

Family friend Sheila Maclean, who has been supporting Miss Oni, said the family were "shocked and disappointed" at the allegation and were considering making an official complaint to the Metropolitan Police.

She said: "There's no proof whatsoever Naomi did this. It's despicable to suggest she did. Every time the police come up with something more and more ridiculous. It's all very upsetting for Naomi."

Miss Oni has described how she got off a bus on Lodge Avenue, Dagenham, shortly after 12.30am on December 30 and became aware of a someone behind her as she spoke to her boyfriend on the phone.

The part-time model, who had just finished a late shift at the lingerie store, was then sprayed in the face with a liquid which began burning her skin.

Describing the attack she said: "I felt a presence behind me a few minutes away from home so I turned around, not really expecting to see anybody. But I saw a person wearing a niqab, a little taller than me. They were just staring coldly at me.

"I was startled so I turned away. Suddenly, from nowhere, I felt a splash on my right side and I just ran. I thought to myself, 'Someone is trying to kill me'.

"Before I even realised, it was burning, I somehow knew it was acid. "I didn't look back, I didn't risk it. I didn't know if they knew me, or my name, if they had been sent. It was all so fast. I just thought to myself, 'This person will not kill me, they will not take my life'.

"I ran for my life, screaming, down the road. I was still on the phone to Ato so I told him to call 999."

Doctors at first warned her that she might go blind although she has recovered the vision in her left eye and has partial sight in her right.

She was in hospital for nearly a month receiving treatment for her burns.

Miss Oni's ordeal has drawn public sympathy, inspired a plastic surgeon from America to offer her free treatment and has led to a fundraising appeal.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said today: " On Friday, 22 February, a 21-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of being involved in causing grievous bodily harm.

"On Sunday, 24 February, a 28-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of being involved in causing grievous bodily.

"Both have been bailed to return, pending further enquiries. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the incident."

A spokeswoman refused to comment on the claims attributed to police sources over the weekend.

She said: "We have only ever said that there were several lines of inquiry in this case. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the incident."